Eagle Med has said it's working with the Federal Aviation Administration to set a higher standard for safety in air medical transport services.

State Sen. Tom Ivester, a Democrat from Sayre, says medical helicopters are crucial in rural areas far from large medical centers. But Ivester tells The Oklahoman (http://bit.ly/15AhIwB ) that the Legislature should study whether the helicopters are safe enough and if the service is used too often.

Ivester says he's considering a recommendation from the University of Oklahoma's emergency medicine department, which says accreditation should be mandatory for medical helicopter companies. Now, accreditation is voluntary.

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